Implementing the Research Plan: A Guide for the Helping Professions (SAGE Human Services Guides)

The ideal companion to Planning for Research is Implementing the Research Plan. It presents material with valuable examples for learning about sources of data, measurement theory, reliability and validity of measurement, data summarization techniques, statistical tests, basic computer concepts and software capabilities. It also reviews ethical principles, requirements, and constraints for the social science researcher. Together, these companion volumes provide ideal texts for courses in Social Work, Counseling, Human Services, Family Studies, and related fields. "The text is written in easily understood language with statistical terminology kept to a minimum. Where the professional jargon is necessary, Berger and Patchner include simple yet complete definitions within the text. This contributes to the reader′s facile comprehension of the subject matter at hand. If you are one of those professionals who tends to read the introduction, literature review, and conclusions of an article while skipping the methodology, findings, and discussion sections because these are too technical, then Implementing the Research Plan is for you. A few short hours spent with this volume will result in your increased competence to understand and critique the literature. This in turn, will reflect in better written reports and evaluations of your clients as well as greater knowledge of new developments in the field." --Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling CONTENTS: 1. Sources of Data / 2. Measurement / 3. Reliability and Validity / 4. Data Analysis / 5. Statistical Hypothesis Testing / 6. Computer Uses / 7. Research Ethics / Appendix A: Guidelines for Preparing Research Proposals / Appendix B: How to Critique a Research Study / Appendix C: Presenting Data in Tables and Figures / Table of Random Numbers / Critical Values of Chi Square / Critical Values of r / Critical Values of t / Critical Values of f / References